Boat Rentals in Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Rental fleets in Santa Rosa Beach include Center consoles, Jet skis, Pontoon boats, Sailboats and Waverunners. What is available on the day depends on the company and the season, so it is worth checking a few listings.

April, May and October are the best all-around months for boating on Choctawhatchee Bay at Santa Rosa Beach and for nearby Gulf outings. April and May bring warm weather, lower humidity and less rain, while October retains summer-warmed water. June through August is the busiest period, with activity easing in September.

NOAA’s nearby Panama City Beach averages put Gulf water around 70°F in April, the upper 70s in May and October, and the low-to-mid 80s from June through September. In summer, favor mornings because afternoon showers are common.

Source: Walton County Tourism (visitsouthwalton.com)

From Santa Rosa Beach, you can boat from Tucker Bayou into Choctawhatchee Bay, launch directly on the bay, or continue through East Pass to Gulf waters. Point Washington Landing has a ramp and docks on Tucker Bayou, which opens into the bay. Thomas Pilcher Park offers a direct Choctawhatchee Bay launch with ramps and docks.

The bay provides the more open-water outing. East Pass is the marked route between the bay and the Gulf, but NOAA says its channel shoals rapidly, markers may be shifted, and passage should not be attempted in rough weather.

Source: Visit South Walton (visitsouthwalton.com)

From Santa Rosa Beach, boaters make day trips across Choctawhatchee Bay to Crab Island, Norriego Point and Destin Harbor. Crab Island is the anchor-and-wade choice, a popular sandbar reached by captained trips departing Santa Rosa Beach. Norriego Point draws boaters to its sandy beach and protected swimming and snorkeling water beside East Pass. Destin Harbor suits crews who want to dock near waterfront restaurants, see the fishing fleet and enjoy the busy harbor shoreline.

Source: Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism (destinfwb.com)

Florida does not issue a boating license, but operators born on or after January 1, 1988, must carry photo ID and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boating education card when running a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more. This includes personal watercraft. There is no general minimum age for boats; personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, and no one under 18 may rent any vessel other than a human powered one. Exemptions include Coast Guard licensed masters, private lake or pond operators, operators accompanied aboard by someone 18 or older who holds the card or is exempt and is responsible for the vessel, and nonresidents with proof of a NASBLA-approved out of state course. Any non exempt operator may instead pass an FWC approved temporary certificate exam and carry that certificate with photo ID for 90 days.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rules require boaters to carry life jackets, stay sober, use properly registered vessels, follow personal watercraft limits, and obey posted no wake and manatee zones. Every vessel must carry an accessible U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person; children under 6 must wear one while underway on vessels under 26 feet. Operating while impaired is illegal; a .08 blood or breath alcohol level creates a presumption of impairment. Most vessels must be registered and carry the certificate aboard. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 14, wear a noninflatable PFD, and not operate from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

Florida law requires you to be at least 18 to rent a livery vessel other than a human-powered vessel. Florida sets no general minimum age to operate a boat, but a personal watercraft operator must be at least 14.

Under section 327.395, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, operating a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must carry the required boating safety credentials. An exemption applies when accompanied by a credentialed or exempt person age 18 or older who is attendant to the operation and responsible for safe operation and violations. The rental operator sets its own booking minimum subject to state law, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com)

Alongside the boat rentals on this page, Santa Rosa Beach has 3 boat dealers.